2008 Toyota Highlander Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 58about this part
- Share
- 14%of 405 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 58 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 14% of the 405 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander. While driving a side city street, on a slight curve, the steering wheel locked and could not be turned. As a result, my daughter hit a tree. My daughter was going approximately 25mph and the impact was in the center of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #11097552, filed 2018-05, 80,000 miles“Air bag warning light lit, took to dealer and found out spiral cable was the issue and need replaced. This is a huge safety issue which I believe should be recalled by Toyota as they already did on other models. As a loyal Toyota customer along with the rest, I would like to call upon Toyota to step up to the plate and do the right thing--recall this air bag issue. Thank you!!”
NHTSA complaint #10573365, filed 2014-03, 73,000 miles“Air bag indicator light just came on at 73,000 miles, no accident. Took it to dealer and they replaced the spiral cable assembly in driver airbag at a cost of $500 and explained there was no recall on my vehicle. I called Toyota and they told me this only affected tacoma's, interesting though, that my 08 Highlander had same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10532337, filed 2013-07, 72,974 miles“We were driving on wa14 going about 55mph when our right side airbag curtain exploded. We were not in a collision. No body damage. The airbags exploded out of thin air.”
NHTSA complaint #11118035, filed 2018-08, 110,000 miles“I was driving north on a divided one way street. A 2006 minivan was traveling south on the other side of the divided street. He made a left hand turn, ran through the yield sign and broadsided me on the driver side. I saw he was not going to stop and turned the wheel to the right, not in time. Took out the left side of the Highlander from the front wheel to the rear panel. His front airbag did deploy. My side airbag did not deploy and I know my head bounced against the side window twice. …”
NHTSA complaint #10598789, filed 2014-06, 55,000 milesRelated recalls
- 14V168000Apr 9, 2014Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors…Covers: Toyota Highlander 2008–2010, Yaris 2006–2010, RAV4 2006–2008 +4 more
- 11V245000Apr 21, 2011Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 rav4 vehicles. In the curtain shield airbag (csa) system…Covers: Toyota Highlander 2008, RAV4 2007–2008, Highlander Hybrid 2008
Related service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10227898Nov 23, 2022TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131852Mar 8, 2017Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
- 10131851Mar 8, 2017Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 6% |
| 2022 | 32 | 12% |
| 2021 | 42 | 8% |
| 2020 | 32 | 10% |
| 2019 | 14 | 3% |
| 2018 | 19 | 7% |
| 2017 | 9 | 3% |
| 2016 | 10 | 9% |
| 2015 | 8 | 4% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 17 | 8% |
| 2012 | 10 | 5% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 14 | 6% |
| 2009 | 8 | 6% |
| 2008 | 58 | 14% |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% |
| 2005 | 9 | 4% |
| 2004 | 9 | 3% |
| 2003 | 9 | 3% |
| 2002 | 13 | 4% |
| 2001 | 10 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2008 Toyota Highlander
81 complaintsEngine
58 complaintsVehicle speed control
45 complaintsElectrical system
44 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsTires
25 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsFuel system
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology